UNICEF launched a "Nutrition Now" campaign in late 2020 to address the urgent nutrition needs of millions of vulnerable children in the Sahel region of West Africa and Central Africa who lack access to basic food and nutrition. An estimated 8.1 million children experienced wasting in early 2020, increasing to nearly 10 million by November, with around three million experiencing severe wasting. The campaign aims to help these children and accompanies $1.7 billion in pledged humanitarian aid from international donors to families across the Central Sahel region, which faces extreme violence and underfunded aid needs posing a twin threat.

1. UNICEF Launches “Nutrition Now”
Campaign for Africa’s Sahel Region
Rao Chalasani

2. Introduction
With extensive knowledge of the NY markets, Rao Chalasani has an entrepreneurial
presence spanning New York and New Jersey, and has experience creating
enterprise risk management systems. A longtime supporter of humanitarian efforts,
Rao Chalasani supports organizations such as the Sankara Eye Foundation and
UNICEF.

3. Operated by the United Nations, UNICEF launched an urgent “Nutrition Now” campaign in
the Sahel region of West Africa and Central Africa in late 2020. A major challenge is that
millions of vulnerable children in Burkina Faso and Niger are unable to access basic food
and nutrition. With the number of such children experiencing wasting estimated at 8.1
million in early 2020, the number was thought to have increased to nearly 10 million by
November. Of these, approximately three million are impacted to a severe degree.

4. The UNICEF effort accompanies $1.7 billion pledged by international donors in
October to provide humanitarian aid to families across the Central Sahel region.
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, a twin threat is posed by extreme
violence coupled with significantly underfunded aid needs.